Preparation of Cellulose Triacetate (CTA) — Aliquat 336 Electrospun Fibers for removal of methyl orange from aqueous solution

Textile wastewater is classified as the most polluting sector compared to all other industrial sectors due to the discharge of dye pollutants. Dye-containing effluents from this industry can affect environmental health as well as human health. Today, there have been many studies conducted about removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution using electrospun fibers. However, the study and research about electrospun fibers on dye removal is scarcely reported. This research aimed to investigate the removal efficiency of methyl orange from aqueous solution using electrospun fibers made from cellulose triacetate (CTA) as the base polymer and Aliquat 336 as an extractant. A solvent of dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) with a ratio of 8:2 was used to dissolve the extractant and base polymer followed by electrospinning process for the preparation of electrospun fibers. Parameters such as different Aliquat 336 concentration (5, 10, 15, 35 and 40 w.t%), pH of methyl orange (2, 4, 6, 7 and 10) and methyl orange initial concentration (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ppm) that affect extraction efficiency were also studied to determine the best parameters for optimum extraction condition to happen. Based on the results, the removal efficiency for CTA-Aliquat 336 electropun fibers of methyl orange increased with the increasing of Aliquat 336 content up to 10 wt.%. Highest methyl orange removal percentage achieved was 99.86% with concentration of 10 wt.% of Aliquat 336 within 24 hours. Under an optimized condition (10 wt.% Aliquat 336, pH 2 of methyl orange, and 10 ppm of methyl orange), 99.93% of methyl orange was successfully removed by CTA-Aliquat 336 electrospun fibers after 24 hours. The characterization study of membranes using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) found the presence of positively charged ammonium groups of Aliquat 336 and some covalent bondings such as C-0 and C=0 which indicated the presence of base polymer.